But _ and this is the key _ the system doesn't work without someone like Nash.

Credit for the Suns' torrid start can be spread to several sources _ Grant Hill's work on the boards, Amare Stoudemire's new-found commitment to defense, Jared Dudley's hustle _ but the primary reason is Nash.

Just three months shy of his 36th birthday, he's playing as well as he did when he won back-to-back most valuable player awards in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

His 12.9 assists per game leads the league and would represent a career best; his previous high was 11.6 three seasons ago. He's averaging 18.3 points per game _ his career high is 18.8 _ shooting 52.5 percent from the field and playing 34.5 minutes per game.

Oh, and he's already recorded 20 assists in two games this year, the first time in NBA history a player has had two 20-assist games in the first eight games of the season. Prior to this season, Nash had just five career games with at least 20 assists.

You knew Nash would revel in the freedom given him by coach Alvin Gentry, who has borrowed D'Antoni's offense. But there's something else going on here. Nash is having fun again. The journey always has been as important to him as the destination, and the past two seasons were a joyless grind.

"You have to understand," general manager Steve Kerr said. "Steve, probably more than any athlete I've ever seen, is all about the environment, the atmosphere and the chemistry. That's what he thrives on.

"He's obviously an amazing Basketball player, but he understands the game at a much deeper level than most people. He understands what a powerful force chemistry and camaraderie can be. He cares about it so much. That's why it tore him apart last year when we lost it."

For that, you can blame Shaquille O'Neal and, yes, Stoudemire, who had yet to accept the fact the needs of the team were more important than his desires.

But with O'Neal gone and Stoudemire apparently maturing, this team is reminiscent of the 2004-05 Phoenix club that won this area's heart with its three-point shooting and pure joy with which it played.

"I can see the connection," Kerr said. "On our road trip you had 10 guys going to dinner together every night. That's pretty rare."

Obviously, the season is in its infancy. The Suns will hit some rough patches, and their lack of size may still catch up to them. But to be 8-1 and have handled the Celtics in Boston?

Who imagined that?

Pat Kerr on the back for dumping O'Neal on Cleveland and acquiring center Channing Frye, who's a better fit for what the Suns want to do. Praise Gentry, who was smart enough to bring D'Antoni's system back to life, use his bench and insist the Suns play some defense.

Opponents are shooting 47.5 percent against Phoenix, but that number drops to 43 percent in the fourth quarter.

"That's been probably the most encouraging development of all," Kerr said. "We knew three or four years ago in order to really take another step as a team we had to improve our defense. Alvin has taken that to heart, we worked so hard during training camp, and our bench guys are dirt workers, as Cotton Fitzsimmons used to call them. It's really gratifying."

In the end, though, 8-1 is Nash's doing. Last year, he was miscast by Terry Porter and marginalized by O'Neal, and his diminishing numbers reflected his discontent.

Now he's happy, healthy and again making the Suns can't-miss TV.

Think D'Antoni misses him?

___

(c) 2009, East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Arizona)

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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